Donna

Name:
Donna Ingram

In what part of town do you live?
In Homestead/ Redland area.

How long have you lived in the area?
I have lived there since 1954. My parents moved there when I was a year old.

And then you married into another longtime Homestead family?
Yes, the Ingram family. They moved there in the 1900’s and the Ingram Nursery was started around the 60’s. We built our home on Biscayne right across from the nursery, 42 years ago.

What do they grow at the nursery?
It’s all ornamentals with around 1000 varieties. 

What do you like about living in the Redland?
Having acreage would be the thing that I love the most and I’m not right on top of somebody. But, they want to build 180 homes behind me on less than a half acre. We’ll see what happens about that. I’ve never had neighbors. And, the nursery is right across the street. My husband goes to work on a golf cart.

How else has the area changed over the years?
Florida used to be so much citrus and now almost all the citrus has gone from the canker disease.

What keeps you busy during the week?
I am very much a homemaker. I love to work in my home. I love gardening. I’m a wedding coordinator on the weekends. I usually meet brides during the week and have weddings on the weekend. And then of course I exercise and do a lot of charity work.

How did you get into wedding coordinating?
My girlfriend owns the Cooper Estate on 248th street. It’s over a hundred years old. It was a barn and they converted it into a wedding venue. The barn is air conditioned and absolutely beautiful. You get married at the grotto, which is at the end of a tropical pathway. Eight years ago, she asked if I would be the day-of-coordinator. I started working for her and I love it. 

What about it do you love?
I love the people. It is usually the happiest day of a woman’s life – either, the day she gives birth or she gets married. Those days are really special. I try to make the bride and her family as happy as they can be and make their day the most memorable they’ve ever had. And I love everybody, I just love people. It’s a great job for me. It comes very easy.

I can imagine you are very good at solving problems. What makes it a good fit for you?
Absolutely. The bride would never know if something was going wrong. I’m very organized. But, my daughter would tell you I’m the most disorganized, organized person she knows. If I know something has to get done, I don’t care how I have to do to get it done. It will be done. I am not a procrastinator.

What advice would you give a couple getting married?
Trust who is working for them. They know what they’re doing. Don’t worry about anything because everything will turn out exactly perfect as perfect can be.

What projects are you working on in your home that you’re excited about?
I had these beautiful antique oak chairs painted white and they turned out beautiful. I am redoing my kitchen and it is purple and white and I absolutely think it’s beautiful. I love for everything to be perfect and clean. I don’t like to throw things away. I try to make something out of something that I’ve already had. You know what I’m saying? I just don’t like dispensing of things just to get something new.

You started visiting us at the drive through. How did you discover LNB?
I heard of LNB from my daughter, and I really owe her my life because I love every single product that you guys have. I don’t care if I have a wedding on Saturday, I will be to you before I go to work for a smoothie or something else. I love you both and you are so talented.

How have you been using our Turmeric?
I drink the concentrate, but the little Golden Melts – I can eat those whole. Sometimes, I’ll put them in a smoothie or I’ll make a latte. I use unsweetened almond milk and heat it up, then add a little bit of Splenda and the turmeric cubes. I also pass the melts out to everybody at the gym. They love them.

What other places do you enjoy visiting that you might recommend?
Since the pandemic, we have not really eaten out that much. I love Two Chefs in South Miami. I like the Cheese Course in Pinecrest for lunch. Both are absolutely wonderful. The café at Nordstrom’s is very good. And, Alaine’s Osteria, on 168th, is fabulous Italian.

Where would you go for a special occasion?
Probably Joes or Christies.

You had an incredible Florida dress on this weekend. Do you have any secret spots for shopping?
Inside one of the gyms I go to, Body and Soul, is a little shop called Tina B. I like to buy things there. I also love Marshall’s and TJ Maxx. I saw the Florida dress on a lady in Palm beach walking down the street. As she passed me, I thought in my mind that is the most adorable dress I have ever seen with alligators, Seminoles, avocados, grapefruits, oranges, and flamingos. I just loved it. I went to another shop and lo and behold, the lady is in there and I could not help myself. She said it was from a museum on Los Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The designer had copied a tablecloth and made this dress to promote the museum and Fort Lauderdale. I told my husband that is the most fabulous dress I think I will ever have in my life.

What’s Miami’s best kept secret?
YOU are Miami’s best kept secret! But, I will tell you one thing, Miami turns on a dime. Everybody knows everybody and to be a big city, we’re very small. From the Redlands to South Beach, you have farming to spectacular oceans and views. We have a little bit of everything.

What for you is a worthy splurge?
A designer purse or fine china. I love china.

What do you do when it’s raining out?
I clean out a drawer. I’ve never rented a movie on TV, I always find something productive to do.

What community groups or events are important to you that you might like to promote or share?
I am a member of The Villagers. They keep me pretty busy. We do a home tour every December and we also have a garden tour. And, I’m big on St. Jude’s.

What question would you like to ask us?
(DI) Would you make the cookies every weekend?

(A+W) To turn on the cookie machine means we’re making at least 2000 cookies. For now, we make them once a month to keep them special. We have talked about adding a couple extra cookie days for holidays.

What have we not talked about that we should have?
I collect vinyl. I must have over 2000. I love eighties. I love rock and roll. I love disco. I love nineties. But, I’m not a country fan. I love George Benson, Tom Jones, Billy Ocean. I just love music. I love that crinkling sound of the needle. It’s amazing what you can find at Goodwill, Salvation Army, and yard sales.

Any final thoughts?
I’m going to tell you this. I love your location. I hope you don’t have to go back to where you were, because I love the way you drive up and don’t have to deal with parking. Both of you are so personable. You just feel like you’re not a number or just a customer going in somewhere. I look forward to every Saturday. I am so glad I met you and Adena.